Potter ‘ready to go’ against Arsenal after Crystal Palace’s Successful WSL Return

Speaking in her press conference ahead of Crystal Palace’s fixture against Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday, Manager Jo Potter was full of optimism as Palace look to continue their new chapter after being promoted to the WSL once again. She was explicit that they have “got quite a few strings to [their] bow”, something they did not hide in their first match of the season.

Having beaten Everton 1-0 on Sunday, Palace now look ahead to continue challenging the top talent in the league with their exciting signings and moving past last week’s substitution controversy to bring their quality to face a tough Gunners’ side. 

Reflections from Game Week One

Potter made it clear that Crystal Palace’s victory over Everton has been a huge boost to the team, as well as having provided an opportunity for Palace to show what they’re made of, something the player’s high spirits have reflected:

“I don't think you could ever shake that from this group of girls. You know, you always wonder what that's (the spirit of the team) gonna look like when you come in on a Tuesday morning and see the group and the vibe of the girls, but they were brilliant. You know, I think, they deserve the victory and the three points, and they were buzzing with it and that’s carried on into training this week. They’re ready to hit the ground running and focus on Arsenal”.

When asked about the confidence this brings to the side, Potter implied that this is not just for those within the team, but also perhaps for the supporters who have been awaiting Palace’s return to the WSL this season:

“Yeah, I think it's huge. I think everybody's looking towards that first game of the season, aren't they, to see potentially where everyone's at and where you sit and what it looks like. You know, we were coming up against a very good, established team in Everton, who have made some very good signings again and have got some very strong players in their team. So I think it was, I think it was a real boost for us. We always knew what we were capable of within the building. It was good that we could showcase that and, you know, maybe surprise a few people on the outside and come away with a victory and a clean sheet”.

After it was revealed last week that Crystal Palace had broken substitution rules, rumours of points deductions, fines, or a possible match replay have been circling after an investigation was launched. Jo Potter however is evidently keen to let this play out without it affecting the team, and to move forward whilst maintaining the confidence from their win:

“We don't know (the result) because everything's if, buts and maybes at the moment. At this moment in time, we won the game, we've got three points on the board right now, and that's what we can focus on, you know, as soon as you start turning your focus and attention to if buts and maybes, then it changes a lot of your forward thinking. So, you know, we'll deal with whatever scenario is the outcome in the best possible way. But until that point, you know, it is as it is right now”

On Standout Star Lexi Lloyd-Smith Getting Her Well-Deserved Flowers

One of the most talked about names of the WSL’s opening weekend was Palace’s new signing, and breakout star, Lexi Lloyd Smith, who scored on her competitive debut for the club to give them the win against Everton, but Potter was not at all surprised by her success on Sunday and certainly recognises her incredible potential going forward:

“When I was bringing Lexi in, I said after the game the other day, that I wasn't surprised in how she played and how she performed because we can see it, day in, day out at training. We're just happy that we could put her on a platform to be able to showcase it at the top level”

“I've been a fan of Lexi for many years now [..] I could see something in her potential and how she is as a human being. She's one of the nicest human beings you'll ever meet. You know, she's a South London girl, which helps. [..] I still don't know where Lexi can get to. I've said this to her. I think, you know, her ceiling is as high as it wants to be [..] I think talking on the very first day, the challenge for her is now to keep doing that consistently and showing up week and week out and being on people's lips every single week and that's only a good thing for her”

Bringing Experience with New Signing Beth England

Bethany England, former Spurs captain and new addition to Palace’s squad this summer, was absolutely vital in maintaining the win against Everton with her late clearance off the line, and Potter spoke emphatically about the versatility and skill she brings with her to the team:

“Beth’s great in both boxes. I think everybody can see the ability that she has in her aggression to be able to attack the ball, both attacking and defensive wise, and that's just instincts and years of kicking in, of knowing that there's a danger there and dropping into the right area. You sometimes can't teach those moments, their instincts, and she kicked in, and, you know, I was speaking about it before that, um, even where the ball landed, where it cleared to was, went out for a throw in, it didn't land in an awkward area to, to run off the back of that. So, you know, that's experience and that's what  you get in and that's what we managed to get on Sunday.”

Furthermore, she also referenced the experience that England brings off the pitch, and the ways in which she shares her expertise with the other players in the front line:

“She's been great, you know, she's built up a great rapport with the younger players,  just guiding them in the right way and what it looks like, she's done it for many, many years, and you can see that, how she holds herself as a professional, how she conducts herself, and, if we've got somebody like her guiding the way for our new young talent that are very early in their career, then they're going to be in a good position to learn from one of the best”.

The Test Against Arsenal - Excitement and Lessons to be Learnt

Crystal Palace go into their game against Arsenal on Sunday very much as the underdogs, but Potter isn’t letting that stop her side from pushing to get the best result possible:

“Yeah, it's gonna be tough. We know what Arsenal are like, especially at the Emirates. Very good record there. It’s gonna be a great occasion for my players, you know, but I think coming into that game off the back of a very positive result will help. So yeah, we're very much looking forward to it. We know they've got some world-class players you know, but we've got to make sure that we’re sticking to our processes and doing what we do really well, um, and trying to show up and make it as difficult as possible. As ever, going out there to try and get as many points as possible on the day.”

Palace actually faced Arsenal in pre season, where they faced a narrow 2-1 defeat after conceding two late goals, and Potter was asked how that game can be used ahead of their meeting on the weekend:

“It was early in preseason, especially for Arsenal, when we played them. I think it was their first fixture. But, you know, Arsenal is always Arsenal, no matter what eleven they can put out, they can put out two very strong elevens. They've got a very good way of playing, they’ve made some excellent signings. I think, you know, the addition of Georgia Stanway into the midfield just changes their dynamic again, and it's something that we've got to look at and got to try and deal with. I can see that they've tweaked a few things since we played them again, so yeah, it's looking at part of the stuff that we did against Arsenal in preseason, but again, both teams have progressed and moved through preseason very differently and we could see a very different Arsenal that was set up against Brighton last week than what we played in preseason”.

Adaptability and comfort out of possession were two key ideas Potter mentioned ahead of the game, as she reflected on how their meeting with Arsenal will be able to teach them valuable lessons for the season ahead:

“Yeah, I think it's important to know that each game will look different, and tactically it might tweak slightly depending on the opposition and what we feel like is one and foremost a threat for us and how we can hurt the opposition, but also trying to nullify their strengths. So, you know, I think, as I've said before, one of the biggest things for us this year is being adaptable, being able to change and adapt to certain moments and certain times and aspects, and, you know, we're facing a different one again on Sunday. So, you know, we hopefully have put something together that can cause Arsenal problems and try and stop them getting into full flow [..] I think it's recognising at certain times that it's okay to not have the ball and suffer at certain times because that's this league”.

No matter the result for Palace, this fixture will surely be another opportunity for them to keep maintaining and perfecting their skill at the top level, and maybe they can even surprise the Gunners as they look “forward to an exciting game on an excellent ground against a very good Arsenal team”.